%0 Journal Article
%T Recent insights into eukaryotic double-strand DNA break repair unveiled by single-molecule methods.
%A De Bragança S
%A Dillingham MS
%A Moreno-Herrero F
%J Trends Genet
%V 39
%N 12
%D 2023 12 6
%M 37806853
%F 11.821
%R 10.1016/j.tig.2023.09.004
%X Genome integrity and maintenance are essential for the viability of all organisms. A wide variety of DNA damage types have been described, but double-strand breaks (DSBs) stand out as one of the most toxic DNA lesions. Two major pathways account for the repair of DSBs: homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Both pathways involve complex DNA transactions catalyzed by proteins that sequentially or cooperatively work to repair the damage. Single-molecule methods allow visualization of these complex transactions and characterization of the protein:DNA intermediates of DNA repair, ultimately allowing a comprehensive breakdown of the mechanisms underlying each pathway. We review current understanding of the HR and NHEJ responses to DSBs in eukaryotic cells, with a particular emphasis on recent advances through the use of single-molecule techniques.